Cat Reproductive Cycle

Estrous cycle:It is known as estrous cycle the lapse of time between the beginning of the heat period and the beginning of the next heat period. It is very irregular in female cats and it is influenced by the length of the day. So, in regions as of the northern hemisphere the estrous cycle comes generally between the months of January and September. This reproductive season be overcome by having the animals from 12 to 14 hours per day on artificial light. This is a good way to keep female cats in heat during a whole year.

The estrous cycle in cats is present, in average, in young female cats, in puberty (6 to 9 months), and in adult empty female cats every 14 to 19 days. The first heat after giving birth is of 7 or 9 days.

The main symptoms of heat period are:

constant meowing

females cats constantly rubs itself against objects

the cat assumes a coupling posture

female cats frequently urinate

cats show themselves very affective

Stages of the estrous cycle are:

Pro-estrous: This stage is characterized for being of fast follicular growth. The cat turns playful and is solicit with every male cat, but does not accept coupling yet.

Pro-estrous may last between 1 and 2 days, but female cats go generally from the pro-estrous to the estrous stage in few hours only.

Estrous or Heat: This phase corresponds to heat period properly said.. It is a stage which the estrogen of the folliculate goes in the blood circulatory system in bigger doses and provokes the typical manifestation of heat.

In female cats duration of the estrous period is very variable, having as average I week. During this period, female cats will more than willing to accept coupling.

Inter Estrous: When female cats are not coupled, they go into a stage that lasts an average of I week, known as inter estrous. This is a stage in which there is no sign of reproductive activity; after this phase, female cats go again into the pro estrous and estrous period.

Meta-Estrous: When female cats have coupled and ovulated, but have not gotten pregnant, they go through a period called meta-estrous; period that lasts between 5 and 7 weeks, and in which there is no sign of reproductive activity.

Coupling: The reproducers should couple between the eighteenth and twenty fourth month. Female and male cats should have all their vaccines up-to-date. They must have been wormed and certified free from hereditary flaws.

The coupling in cats lasts between one and twenty seconds and to obtain good results it is recommended to be done 3 times a day during 3 consecutive days. During heat, if no precautions are taken, the female cat could be able to breed with more than one cat, resulting a brood with different fathers. After the service, the female cat cleans itself franticly and does not allow anyone near her for at least 1 hour; after which, it will be receptive again.

Its important to note that the male cat has a place to hide (it could be a box or a shelf) after coupling because the female cat is usually very aggressive for a while.

Ovulation and Fecundating: The ovulation is the liberation of one or more ovules from the ovaries to the oviduct and the fecundating is the moment in which the spermatozoids join with the freed ovules.

It is fundamental to indicate that the female cat, in contrast with a female dog, does not have a spontaneous ovulation, but that its ovulation is induced by the mount; that is, that the ovary follicle only liberates ovules, as an answer to the coupling.